266 | id == 266
266 | category_id == 19
266 | category_order == 16
266 | category_name == Pain
266 | category_color == #C47AC0
266 | slug == TRPV1-pain
266 | title == The Heat Receptor’s Role in Pain Perception (TRPV1)
266 | meta_description == TRPV1 is a pain receptor that responds to heat and capsaicin, the compound that makes food taste spicy. Are you sensitive?
266 | summary == <p><strong>TRPV1 is a pain receptor that responds to heat and capsaicin, the compound that makes food taste spicy. Are you especially sensitive to heat pain? Find out here.</strong></p>
266 | overall_score_text == Pain Score (based on TRPV1)
266 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/TRPV1--Pain.jpg
266 | author_id == 1
266 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
266 | author_title == BSc, BEd
266 | author_order == 36
266 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
266 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
266 | reviewer_id == 14
266 | reviewer_name == Shany Lahan
266 | reviewer_title == MS (Neuroscience)
266 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
266 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
266 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
266 | publish_date == 2020
266 | publish_date == 8
266 | publish_date == 11
266 | avg_rating == 5.0
266 | tags_id == 600
266 | tags_name == Capsaicin
266 | tags_id == 71
266 | tags_name == Pain
266 | tags_id == 487
266 | tags_name == Taste
266 | tags_id == 181
266 | tags_name == Taste Perception
266 | tags_id == 599
266 | tags_name == TRPV1 Gene
266 | permissions_favorite == False
266 | permissions_rate == False
266 | content_article == <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you have persistent or unexplained pain, it is important to discuss these concerns with your doctor. The information in this post is presented for educational purposes only, and should not be used to replace standard medical care.</span></em></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is TRPV1?</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRPV1</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene encodes a receptor which, in response to certain stimuli, produces the sense of scalding heat and pain [</span><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960982211000546"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRPV1 developed to help us sense temperatures above 43 &deg;C (109 &deg;F) as well as acidic conditions. However, it is also activated by capsaicin (the spicy compound in hot peppers) and by allyl isothiocyanate (found in mustard and wasabi) [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15971082/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0960982211000546"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23955021/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Perception of Heat and Pain</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heat and pain are closely related in terms of how our bodies sense danger. In fact, heat is recognized as one of the core types of pain stimuli, along with mechanical pain and chemical pain [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219252/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mechanical pain receptors respond to physical damage (cuts, pressure, pinching, etc), while chemical pain receptors respond to irritating external chemicals (like acids) and internal pain-signalling compounds (like </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/bradykinin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">bradykinin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/prostaglandins/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">prostaglandins</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, or </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/leukotrienes/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">leukotrienes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219252/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heat pain receptors are only supposed to respond to potentially damaging heat, but some plants evolved to produce compounds that bind to and activate them [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6180359/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sensing Heat &amp; Sensing Cold</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Where TRPV1 is a heat pain sensor, another receptor called </span><a href="../../article/trpm8-ibs-166/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRPM8</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a cold pain sensor. Each one acts against the other: when TRPV1 is activated, it reduces the sensitivity of TRPM8 and vice versa [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1574235"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4220012"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some people seem to be more sensitive to heat, while others are more sensitive to cold. Unsurprisingly, some evidence suggests that this relative sensitivity has to do with whether TRPV1 or TRPM8 is more &ldquo;dominant.&rdquo; Someone who is more resistant to cold weather, for example, might be more sensitive to heat or even to capsaicin in spicy food [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3066165/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRPV1 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">encodes a pain receptor that activates in response to heat. It also responds to capsaicin, which is found in spicy food, and it acts in opposition to the cold receptor, TRPM8.</span></span></p> <h2><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRPV1 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Variants &amp; Pain</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because of its central role in pain perception, it isn&rsquo;t surprising that many </span><a href="../../../gene/trpv1/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRPV1</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants have been associated with pain [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21468319/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30418350/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22162417/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6180359/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One SNP, </span><a href="../../../snp/rs8065080/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs8065080</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, has been associated with altered sensitivity to heat, cold, and capsaicin. At this variant, the &lsquo;C&rsquo; allele is associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin, but reduced sensitivity to cold. Someone with one or more &lsquo;C&rsquo; alleles here would, for example, be more likely to be able to hold a snowball in their bare hands for a longer period of time; they may feel less pain from the snow against their skin. However, they may feel more pain from touching something hot [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3066165/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6180359/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other SNPs with links to specific types of pain perception include </span><a href="../../../snp/rs222747/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs222747</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-C (vaginal pain), </span><a href="../../../snp/rs222741/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs222741</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-A (migraine), and </span><a href="../../../snp/rs7217270/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs7217270</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-A (migraine) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6180359/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6180359/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even more SNPs have been linked to pain and capsaicin sensitivity more broadly. These include </span><a href="../../../snp/rs79821076/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs79821076</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-A, </span><a href="../../../snp/rs56095209/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs56095209</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-T, </span><a href="../../../snp/rs222749/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs222749</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-A, </span><a href="../../../snp/rs222748/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs222748</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-A, </span><a href="../../../snp/rs224534/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs224534</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-G, and </span><a href="../../../snp/rs4790522/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs4790522</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">-A [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6180359/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TRPV1 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants have been associated with both specific pain disorders and heat pain perception more broadly.</span></span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your TRPV1 Results for Pain</span></h2> <p>*1193493802593741*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">SNP Summary and Table</span></h3> <p><strong>TRPV1 rs8065080</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Associated with decreased sensitivity to heat and increased sensitivity to cold</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Associated with increased sensitivity to heat and decreased sensitivity to cold</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>TRPV1 rs79821076</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>TRPV1 rs56095209</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Not associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>TRPV1 rs222749</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>TRPV1 rs222748</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>TRPV1 rs222747</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Not associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>TRPV1 rs222741</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with slightly higher incidence of migraine</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with slightly lower incidence of migraine</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>TRPV1 rs224534</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with potentially decreased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>TRPV1 rs4790522</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Not associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with increased sensitivity to heat and capsaicin</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>TRPV1 rs7217270</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with slightly lower incidence of migraine</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Associated with slightly higher incidence of migraine</span></li> </ul> <p>*5494063844317112*</p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Recommendations for Reducing Heat Pain</span></h2> <p>*9734908702290574*</p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Capsaicin &amp; Spicy Food</span></h3> <p><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/capsaicin/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Capsaicin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> activates the TRPV1 receptor. Although this activity typically triggers inflammatory pain, repeated stimulation makes brain cells less sensitive to pain perception. High doses of capsaicin also seem to reduce the levels of </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/substance-p-roles/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">substance P</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which is involved in pain transmission, in the spinal cord [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5326624/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2581820/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies show that topical creams and patches with 8% capsaicin are as effective as some oral painkillers at relieving pain caused by nerve damage, such as from HIV, herpes, and diabetes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6464756/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23707278/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6956009/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21753727/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28365034/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Applied through the nose, capsaicin reduced the number and severity of cluster </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatment-migraines/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">headache</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> attacks in 3 small trials on 89 people [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2520386/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7708405/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8495452/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some research suggests that slowly introducing spicier and spicier food into our diets can also desensitize TRPV1. This would seem to support the general cultural awareness that you can &ldquo;get used to&rdquo; spicy food over time [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3607321/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">TRPV1 receptors can be desensitized over time through repeated exposure to capsaicin in spicy foods or in topical creams.</span></p>
266 | content_snp_table_1193493802593741_key == 1193493802593741
266 | content_snp_table_1193493802593741_blur == True
266 | content_snp_table_1193493802593741_hidden == False
266 | content_learn_more_5494063844317112_key == 5494063844317112
266 | content_learn_more_5494063844317112_blur == True
266 | content_learn_more_5494063844317112_hidden == False
266 | content_learn_more_5494063844317112_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your TRPV1 gene is associated with moderately increased sensitivity to heat-and capsaicin-related pain. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall sensitivity to heat and spicy food, just one gene related to it. Slowly introducing spicy foods may desensitize your TRPV1 receptors. Keep scrolling to find out more.
266 | content_recommendation_9734908702290574_key == 9734908702290574
266 | content_recommendation_9734908702290574_blur == True
266 | content_recommendation_9734908702290574_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs7217270,rs222748,rs8065080,rs79821076,rs56095209,rs222741,rs222749,rs4790522,rs222747,rs224534
rsStatus = rs7217270,TRPV3,chr17,3518181,A,C,G,T,30,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs222748,TRPV1,chr17,3591067,G,A,C,T,32,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs79821076,TRPV1,chr17,3595800,G,A,,,29,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs56095209,TRPV1,chr17,3592171,C,A,T,,40,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs222741,TRPV1,chr17,3605586,G,A,C,T,24,13,HET
rsStatus = rs222749,TRPV1,chr17,3592080,G,A,,,39,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs4790522,TRPV1,chr17,3566559,A,C,,,28,12,HET
rsStatus = rs222747,TRPV1,chr17,3589906,C,A,G,T,35,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs224534,TRPV1,chr17,3583408,G,A,C,,19,12,HET
